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Related Concept Videos

Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.The genetics of speciation involves the different traits or isolating mechanisms preventing gene exchange, leading to reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation can be due to reproductive barriers that have effects either before or after the formation of a zygote. Pre-zygotic mechanisms prevent fertilization from occurring, and post-zygotic mechanisms...
Formation of Species01:31

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.Allopatric SpeciationIn allopatric speciation, gene flow between two populations of the same species is prevented by a geographic barrier, like...
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.Life is not fair. A deer grazing contentedly in a field can have her meal cut tragically short by a bolt of lightning. If the doomed doe is one of only three in the population, 1/3 of the population’s gene pool is lost. Random events like this can...
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).Mechanisms of Genetic VariationThe original sources of genetic variation are mutations,...
Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
05:39

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 2, 2022

Drift promotes speciation by sexual selection.

Josef C Uyeda1, Stevan J Arnold, Paul A Hohenlohe

  • 1Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA. uyedaj@science.oregonstate.edu

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|December 18, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Genetic drift can rapidly drive sexual isolation and speciation, even in large populations. This challenges the view that drift is unimportant, suggesting it amplifies speciation alongside sexual selection.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Quantitative Genetics
  • Speciation Research

Background:

  • Traditional quantitative genetic models of sexual selection often overlook the direct link to speciation and the impact of finite population size.
  • Previous models focused on the evolution of mating traits but did not fully model the development of sexual isolation.
  • A common misconception posits that genetic drift plays a minimal role in the speciation process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To extend Lande's quantitative genetic model of sexual selection to predict the evolution of sexual isolation and speciation.
  • To investigate the role of genetic drift in speciation, particularly in populations of varying sizes.
  • To challenge prevailing views on the significance of genetic drift in evolutionary divergence.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized computer simulations to extend Lande's (1981) quantitative genetic model.
  • Modeled the evolution of sexual isolation alongside male and female mating traits.
  • Analyzed the impact of genetic drift in populations with effective sizes (N(e)) greater than or equal to 1000.

Main Results:

  • Computer simulations support and extend Lande's findings, demonstrating that drift can rapidly induce sexual isolation and speciation.
  • Rapid speciation via drift was observed even in populations of considerable size (N(e) >= 1000).
  • These findings contrast with the widely held belief that genetic drift is not a significant factor in speciation.

Conclusions:

  • Genetic drift can be a potent force in driving speciation, acting as an amplifier even when selection influences mating preferences.
  • The study provides strong evidence for the role of drift in rapid speciation, contrary to established opinions.
  • Revises the understanding of speciation mechanisms by highlighting the significant, often underestimated, contribution of genetic drift.